Author/Illustrator: Alice Walker/Stefano Vitale
Plot Summary: Using beautiful, and sometimes surreal, illustrations, the horrors of war are described in a personal and poignant manner. Everyday scenes of life on the farm, in the village, at home, and in the jungle are disrupted by the ugly presence of war. Although the nature of the illustrations soften the harsh realities of this book, its message is clear - war is a terrible thing.
Comments: This is a beautifully written and illustrated book but could be a bit scary for children under nine or 10. For younger children, it would be appropriate if they are asking about war or have any reason to need to learn more about the effects of war. For older children learning about the history of our world's wars, this book would be an excellent supplement to the information found in traditional history books and related resources.
Extensions:
1. A short interview with Alice Walker - she reads part of the book, discusses why she included innocent animals in the book and even how global warming is a form of "war." This could be part of a discussion of the book or a spring board for a composition on the subject of war or research project. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4rIP95CVKo
2. In any lesson on war(from fourth grade and up,) this book could be used as a read-aloud to illustrate the personal effects of war.
3. An interview with Alice Walker gives older students(high school) insight in to the author's perception of war. Persuasive essays or classroom debates could stimulate discussion of relevant topics of war.
Themes/keywords: war, fiction
Age/Reading Level: Age 10 and up; Below fourth grade, it would be most appropriate to read with an adult; ATOS/Follett - 3.9
Standards:
Any and all standards for fourth grade or above that involve the study of war.
Publisher's Info: HarperCollins Children's Books, New York. 2007
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-075386-3
ISBN-10: 0-06-075386-2
Awards/Review Sources:
Wilson's Children 01/01/09 | School Library Journal starred 10/01/07 |
| Horn Book starred 04/01/08 | Kirkus Review starred 08/15/07 |
| Booklist 08/01/07 | Horn Book 01/01/08 |
Genre/Dewey: Fiction; Easy
Websites:
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Vocabulary:
Comments